Southport Bathing Lake – 1928. Lido of the North
Above Southport Bathing Lake. Private postcard collection agj
Southport Bathing Lake was the wonderful Lido of the North. It replaced the pool built on the north side of the Marine Drive.
Southport Bathing Lake was the scene of wonderful Beauty Pageants. One could only find standing room. The first bathing pool in 1914 was inadequate regarding the water purification. Also it was unsheltered from the wind and the tide of the Irish sea.
The approach to the Lake
In 1928 the cold and draughty 1914 lido was replaced by the beautiful Southport bathing lake. It stood in Prince’s Park. It was one of the finest in the country and thousands of sun worshippers flocked together. the ‘People’s Pool’ enjoyed idle hours of sun tanning. They endlessly swum and dived into the crystal clear dazzling water. It was a great ampitheatre of gaiety and colour that thousands enjoyed.
There were the Victorian Indoor Baths before the treasure of the swimming lake…
Southport Victorian Baths
It complemented a second pool – the indoor Victorian Baths on the promenade. This was built in 1871 at the time of the building of the promenade itself. Closed for a while and when reopened it was a great gala occasion. The Victorian Baths caused processions through the town with a Gala Ball in the evening.
OUTCOME: Today it is the superb Victoria Leisure and Fitness Club, with the sympathetically restored same architecture.
Back to the ‘Lake’
A delightful film of 12 nymphs diving off the deep end performing a high diving display and frolics from the springboard. A small break of approx. 9 secs between 0.30 – 0.50
OUTCOME: The Southport Bathing Lake prospered but eventually a decline in attendances became its downfall. The Bathing Lake beside the Irish Sea eventually lost its patrons. They flocked to the baking beaches around the Mediterranean
Eventually the treasured icon site was cleared and there were various ideas and thoughts for the area. Eventually the Ocean Plaza Development was constructed. A mammoth retail park.
It was 20 years plus ago – in November 1997 – when the Southport Visiter had revealed plans to build an exciting water park complex in the resort, at a cost of £25million. This did not transpire and the Ocean Plaza Development was built. Many plans for the area today remain on the table.
The updated amusement park next to the vast area of reconstruction of the Ocean Plaza, included the restoration of the great pier. So much for the lido of the north – Southport Bathing Lake never to return except in our memories of the icon it was.
A lovely TRIBUTE. Click image
Bathing situated approximately here.
…A wonderful set of pictures of the lake here… courtesy of Andrew Brown of Southport Visiter.
When I lived in Southport as a family we would regularly go to the lido for the day friends would also join us it was excellent!